REVIEW   

Minerva Stomatologica 2020 October;69(5):317-23

DOI: 10.23736/S0026-4970.20.04352-6

Copyright © 2020 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Socioeconomic behaviors on dental professions: a Google Trends investigation in Italy

Luca FIORILLO ✉, Gabriele CERVINO, Rosa DE STEFANO, Gaetano IANNELLO, Marco CICCIÙ

Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences, Morphological and Functional Imaging, School of Dentistry, G. Martino Polyclinic, University of Messina, Messina, Italy

INTRODUCTION: Dental profession has expanded, and the knowledge that oral health affects systemic health is of greater concern to patients. The purpose of this study is to understand the demand for dental treatments in Italy, knowing if there is any correlation between socioeconomic condition and oral rehabilitation typology. Moreover, focusing on the requested rehabilitations type and on finding alternatives, unconventional solutions.
EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: The research was conducted using an important research database defined Google Trends, with search terms such as “dolore denti” (toothache). A statistical analysis has been conducted in this study evaluation Pearson Correlation Coefficient.
EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: The results divided region by region provide data that reflect the socio-economic conditions of the population concerned. Other results have been obtained from government source, to learn about the economic situations of the individual regions, for this reason the GDP was examined. Furthermore, there are important results regarding the parasanitary professions to which patients, for economic reasons, tend to refer.
CONCLUSIONS: This study will surely be an excellent starting point to investigate professional abuse and above all to assess the needs of the different regions.

KEY WORDS: Dentistry; Socioeconomic factors; Dental implants; Dental prosthesis; Dental technicians; Dentists